Notch Flow Adjustable Rope Wrench

The Notch Flow is a notch rope wrench with adjustable friction, built to sit above a friction hitch on a stationary rope system. It lets you tune how much bite the wrench adds so descents stay smooth on fresh, stiff or worn rope.

Why an adjustable wrench

A fixed rope wrench gives the same friction on every rope. That is fine until you switch from a slick, new line to a fuzzy one that has seen a season of pine pitch, or until a lighter climber borrows your kit. The Flow lets you move the friction up or down so the hitch does the fine control and the wrench takes the heavy work.

On a long descent from a big removal, that adjustability is the difference between feeding rope with both hands and gliding down with one hand on the hitch.

It also helps on short, choppy descents through a crown. With the friction set right, you can stop, reposition and start again without the hitch grabbing or slipping.

Setup and inspection

The Flow rides above your hitch on a short tether and needs to be set up exactly as Notch shows in the instructions, with the tether length matched to your hitch. Check the friction surfaces for grooves, the tether for wear and the connection points for damage before each climb. Life-support gear has to meet the applicable standard and the manufacturer's instructions, get inspected before every climb, and be used only by trained climbers.

Pair it with a hitch cord and climbing line from our SRS devices range and practice low before you trust it high.